Public Service Commission Rule Trumps Louisiana's New Ethics Law
In an action exceeding the requirements of Louisiana’s new, stricter ethics laws, pushed through the Legislature by Governor Bobby Jindal, the Louisiana Public Service Commission voted to forbid commissioners and their staff from accepting any food, beverage or entertainment paid for by companies regulated by the Commission or that have business pending before the Commission. Current state law allows state officials to accept meals provided the cost does not exceed $50 – the expenditure must also be reported.
The proposed meal ban has been pushed by Commissioner Foster Campbell for years, during which time the media has criticized the LPSC and its staff for accepting meals from regulated utilities. Other elected officials will continue to be governed under the more lenient state law.
One commissioner opposed to the ban asserted that campaign contributions, not meals, present a greater potential for influence. “Bring a $5,000 check, I’ll buy the lunch” said Commissioner Pat Manual. Commissioner Manual proposed that commissioners adopt a rule that also prohibits the receipt of campaign contributions from regulated utilities. The new rule will continue to permit the receipt of those campaign contributions, but prohibits the holding of fundraisers by commissioners within 72 hours before or after a public service commission meeting.
For the text of the motion made by Commissioners Field and Boissiere, and adopted by the LPSC, click here.
For additional news articles relating to the LPSC’s recent decision, see http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/37621559.html and http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/psc_decides_to_refuse_free_mea.html